‘The Cages’ hits a home run on Wii

This Nintendo Wii exclusive game shifts away from specific players/characters to concentrate on improving batting skills and entertaining fans. The Wii controls fit this baseball-batting simulator like a glove. The Wii motion plus control option ramps up the challenge and allows players to switch between this specialized control and the standard Wii remote at any time.

Players unfamiliar with this control should watch the included instructional video. Developers create solid customization options and practical mechanics like using the nearby minus button on the remote to pause the game. Use the plus button to navigate setting options while players hold the B (trigger) button to bat.

Players of all skill levels can find considerable challenges amid the multiplayer modes, mini games, free batting and deep training mode, which is necessary for opening certain options. Softball players can even switch the pitching styles to underhand. The visual feedback from different points-of-view helps with necessary adjustments.

This unique baseball game serves up a motorized pitching machine for its batting simulator, which diminishes the realism factor here so developers avoided creating realistic pitching motions as well. Players do not get to see the usual release and pitching motion that determines factors like swing timing. Players can change the pitching machine height and the side (right or left), but, without a human form, players lose an essential face-off experience against the pitcher.

The pitching types number close to 20, including fastballs, curves and a reverse slider. Home runs are the most familiar goal, but players can also shoot for high distances and specific areas on the ball field. Health conscious players can even track calories, which quantify completed activity with food “burned away.” English, French, and Spanish languages available (***, rated E).

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